First Look at Football Drama with Éanna Hardwicke as Roy Keane and Steve Coogan as Mick McCarthy

A new film is shining a spotlight on one of the most controversial moments in Irish football. Saipan, an Irish drama based on the explosive fallout between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy ahead of the 2002 World Cup, has just dropped its first trailer—offering fans a first look at what’s coming.

Éanna Hardwicke stars as Keane, with Steve Coogan playing McCarthy, in a story that revisits the now-infamous training camp in Saipan. The camp, which was supposed to prepare the Republic of Ireland squad for the tournament, instead became the setting for one of the most dramatic player-manager clashes in Irish sporting history.

The film is directed by Lisa Barros D’Sa and Glenn Leyburn, who previously worked on Ordinary Love and Good Vibrations. The script comes from Paul Fraser, known for his work on Heartlands. Alongside the two leads, the cast also features Alice Lowe, Jamie Beamish, Alex Murphy, Harriet Cains, and Peter McDonald.

The plot focuses on the lead-up to Keane’s departure from the team, reportedly due to his anger over what he saw as poor planning and lack of professionalism from the Football Association of Ireland. According to many reports, tensions came to a head during a team meeting, and Keane was sent home just days before Ireland’s first match.

Rather than choosing a side, the filmmakers explore the conflict from several points of view. The aim is to show the human side of the story—what the players were feeling, the pressure they were under, and how everything spiraled out of control. It’s a moment that still divides Irish football fans, even two decades later.

Despite the drama, Ireland went on to perform well in the tournament. They made it out of their group with two draws and a win and pushed Spain to penalties in the Round of 16 before getting knocked out.

Saipan is set to arrive in Irish cinemas later this year. Judging by the trailer, it promises to be an intense and emotional film about a clash that shaped the legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest players.

Saipan is expected to hit cinemas later this year.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments below!